I've eaten at Brio several times and have enjoyed my meals. I had gone in with very low expectations since it is a chain (and i was at a location inthe midwest -- for an italian jersey girl, eating itlain chain food in the midwest seemed like a risk!), but was pleasantly surprised. There is a Brio in Cherry Hill and one in Marlton. Of all the italian chains out there, Brio is definitely one of the better ones (Olive Garden being the ABSOLUTE bottom of the barrel). They have a nice fra diavolo sauce and the sweet potato and chicken risotto is a favorite among my friends.

I'm always going to support the local Italian restauranteur here in NJ. If I were in PA, or WV or TN, it would be another story, but really, why??? Their pricing isn't all that much different than the local eateries we have here (at the Shore.

If you're at the mall, and your hungry, I could see succumbing to something nearby. The only time that I have ever eaten at OG or Johnny Carrera's (??) was because a client opted for it as it was quick (I guess).

If one doesn't pay attention and patronize your local owner, they're going to go by the wayside - and to have to live in an area where the only options are chains is a horrible thought.

The good: GREAT lobster bisque. Possibly the best I've ever had. Super creamy and rich. A decent portion for $5.95.

Caesar salad was delicious, but... see below.

My lemon rosemary chicken skewers were charred on the outside (but in a good way). Loved this dish.

Had some sort of chocolate lava cake for dessert. Very dense, not sickly sweet, inside was more like a gooey, caramel-y ganache. Outstanding.

Ordered an iced tea with lime and mint (not on the menu). Graciously delivered, and I was not charged extra for the mint.

The bad: My kid ordered the kid's lasagna. Sausage was quite spicy. This should have been stated on the menu, or don't use spicy sausage in a kid's entree! She ate my wife's pasta; wife ate the lasagna.

Salads do not come with any of the entrees, and was an additional $3.95. Very skimpy portion, in my opinion. And a total of THREE croutons. Seriously?

The Ugly: Seated at 1:30, left at 3:30. Abysmally slow service. It was like pulling teeth. Can't believe my 3 year old lasted that long.

We'll try it again.. hopefully with better service next time. I still want to try the beef carpaccio appetizer.

I'm heading over to the mall today and I've got to tell you I LOVE lobster bisque your comments have given me reason to give it a try for lunch. It's up against the old Tavern on The Green for its top spot for the best lobster bisque I've ever had. Even to the end when the Tavern was nothing more than an ala carte banquet hall their lobster bisque remained outstanding.

If you want the penultimate Lobster bisque, may I suggest Harry's in Sea Bright. It's a meal in of itself and it's priced that way as well. You'll also never forget it either.

As for Brio, I recall dining at a terrific Italian storefront some years ago, but I thought it went by the name of Brioso's and it may have been further up the road from Freehold in Manalapan, or Marlboro (<<< those towns all look and feel the same anyway - at least to this writer).

Ok being a man of my word had lunch there today and here is my take on things. Although it is a chain it doesn't have a chain feel to it, no "hospitaliano" or olive garden type feel to it. Very well designed and decorated the only give away that it's a chain by sight is just the sheer size of it.

I had the lobster bisque and a cesare salad. While the bisque was very good I can't say it was the "best" I ever had. I prefer it slightly stronger in the sherry taste.....but I'm not complaining it was very good. Cesare salad was excellent cold crisp romain fresh tasting with a dressing more on the creamy side rather than oily. Only potential fault was the size......small to medium salad but I guess that's reflected in the $5.95 price.

Wife had the field greens salad.....again cold crisp fresh as a salad should be. Slightly larger portion than mine but with an abundance of goat cheese and pignoli nuts. Again a nice/good salad!

My son had a chipotle chicken panini with home made potato chips. This went a little to far with a mix of flavors and spice that combined just left you with a burning mouth but not a very impressed palate. The homemade chips were fine. Again sandwhich not bad just nothing great and completely non-Italian by its nature.

Service was good.......overall if I'm at the mall again and in the mood to grab something it would certainly be my choice above the Cheesecake Factory but not impressed enough to make this a destination restaraunt.

I think a nice touch would be a small carafe of sherry so the customer could adjust the taste to their own preference. But I doubt that will happen anytime soon. :) I also prefer a stronger sherry taste.

I'd like to try the brunch on a weekend sometime... they serve brunch until 3 pm!

Never underestimate the taste or lack thereof of the American public. To think that these upscale chains (excluding the M&S steakhouses, or Capitol Grills which are also not any better), digression aside, I shudder to think that this is the 'future' of restaurant dining in the vanilla suburbs.

We went to the Freehold mall on Friday night. I got home from work around 7, from NYC. Not to sound like a chow hound snob, but I said, let's try that new Italian place. Figuring it was appropriately casual as I was in khaki shorts, t-shirt, amd sandals. I was shocked to see people all dressed up going to this place.Never got to eat there as there was a 90 minute wait. I don't wait for potentially mediocre food at a chain. Could not believe people were so dressed up to eat at a chain in the mall. Dressed up for Nicholas, of course, the mall, not me. I guess I am a CH snob, lol

We have been to BRIO twice. We think the food is good, but expensive, considering you do not get a salad with it. I ordered pasta with vodka sauce. It was 17.99, had no protein and the portion was so-so.

A MUCH better deal is to sit by the bar M - F from 3pm - 7pm (They have booths and tables there). They offer many of their apps for $3.99 (which regularly sell for 12.99). They also have a full size burger with chips on the $3.99 menu. This is a steal.

Joe/HillJ what is the bar crowd like during the happy hour? (BAR!! Now your talking my language).....the bar looked pretty impressive from what I saw of it from the dining room....I didnt' give it much thought because of the mall location I just assumed it would be a "kid" crowd and not one I would find condusive to relaxing or unwinding at the end of a work day.

The two times I was there, it was mostly families (some with kids, some without) sitting at the tables. I did not notice who was sitting at the bar the first time I went, but the second time, there was a group of 10 twentysomethings, the rest of the bar was empty. It is a BIG bar.

Not Brio related, at the food court a place named Boc Boc chicken is opened next to Sbarros. It's essentially an Asian styled fried chicken place. They say they are using organic Bell and Evans chickens. My kid was hungry and I ordered fries and a piece of thigh ($0.95 soy & garlic glaze) for him. I had a taste and it was pretty good. The skin is super crispy. Definitely worth a try.